Fix Your Own Computers

This being a technology website, let’s start with something comfortable. When something goes wrong with your computer, don’t take it to the shop right away: try to figure out what’s gone wrong first. See if you can fix it.

If this sounds obvious, know that it isn’t obvious to everyone. Lots of people ask friends for help, or bring their computer into the shop, before they even try to work out what might be going on. But you’re a geek, so you want to solve the problem yourself.

Apply everything you’ve learned about computers over the year so you can play detective, and see if you can’t work out what’s wrong and how to fix it yourself.

Problem Around The House? Google It First

I worked in IT for years, and I’ve got a secret to share with you: most of the time we just Googled the problem. If there was a problem I’d run into before, I’d use my first hand knowledge. But a Windows PC is a complex animal, and there is seemingly no end to the number of ways something can go wrong.

But you know what else there is also seemingly no end of? Other people who have run into the exact same problem, many of whom found a solution on a forum or in the comments section of some blog.

Learning to fix computers was, for me, learning to search for the right thing so I could get exactly the information I needed. Usually the model of the computer, the problems that I’m having, and the error message. Nine times out of ten, a simple search would suffice, but enough people had trouble figuring this out that I was able to make a living at it.

If you fix computers regularly, you know all about this. But have you ever thought about using it for other problems?

I hadn’t. When the dishwasher in my new house managed to make dirty drinking glasses somehow even dirtier, my first inclination was to call a repairman. Then I remembered what it was like to be a repairman, to fix other people’s stuff, and wondered if I couldn’t figure out this problem myself.

One $20 part later, my dishwasher was good as new.

“Just Google it” is the least helpful advice imaginable, but we all forget it sometimes. That’s too bad, because if we can all make it a habit to find out own solutions, we stand to save a lot of money.

Financial blogger Mr. Money Mustache outlined how he used this and other tools to track down electrical demons and save money. Read that article, because it’s the ultimate geek project: tracking down problems in a system and making sure that you optimize them. Even better, you’ll save money.

“With the right adjustments, your electric bill can be a trivial affair that feels like a small monthly reward for your thoughtful use, rather than a painful but necessary draining of your bank account.” -Mr Money Mustache

Set Up Bill Reminders So You Don’t Miss Payments

Missing bill payments is a great way to lose money, not to mention damage your credit. That’s why it’s a good idea to set as many bills as you can to autopay, but when that’s not possible make sure you set up a reminder somewhere else. Set up a monthly reminder on Google Calendar, or wherever you keep track of your dates, to make sure you stay on top of any and all regular payments.

Help Your Friends And They’ll Help You

As you learn to fix more things yourself, you’ll become more helpful. Use that to help your friends.

If you learn a lot about how to fix computers, offer to help people out when they’ve got problems. You’ll get to spend time with them, and more importantly you’ll be making life better for one of your friends.

That’s a reward in and of itself, but they’ll probably want to help you out later. This isn’t to say that friendship is a contract: it isn’t. No matter what you do for a friend, they are not obligated to help you with something else later – especially the things they do for a living. But if you’re helpful, and if you’re kind, they’ll want to help you.

Learn skills, then share them. It’s old-fashioned, but it’s rewarding, and it works.

There’s So Much More You Can Do

Fixing your own computer is just one skill you can learn. The Internet gives you access to all of human knowledge, and it’s just a search away. The key trick here is to remember to use it.

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Anonymous

August 7, 2016 at 7:46 pm

It is also good to check different stores/sites for prices. Just saved over 200$ by checking on ebay for something we will need in time. Also saved a lot on repairs just by googling. It is easy to repair stuff if you can find out how to do it.

Come on, guys. My browser link folder for Make Use Of is stuffed...unmanageable. A while ago I began making pdf's of your articles thinking that would take some pressure off of my link folder; it did. But now my Make Use Of pdf folder is stuffed...unmanageable. Let's see you fix MY problem!! Oh, I did try your Google suggestion by using the search phrase, "'Make Use Of' files." I'm sure you know how that turned out.

How about actually saving money! Automatic transfer of $30.42 a month to an IRA, 401K, or savings account will equal, at year end, $365.04. That's the same as depositing $1 a day for a year. Pay yourself for retirement, an extra car payment, starting an emergency fund, or maybe for that next computer purchase or vacation.

I use this method in three variations. First, I transfer $100 each month to a savings I call Dream Account. This is for the tech I want to buy or vacation money. I do the same again to an account for stocks such as Apple and Nike. Finally, I have 401K set up to increase 1% each calendar year.

As a bonus that Dream account has helped out for emergencies as well like unexpected home expenses. My wife coupons as well and she always checks to see which stores are offering double or triple coupons. She keeps a spreadsheet about the amounts saved on groceries. Coupons saved us $2700 on groceries last year!

Great Article. I google stuff all the time. and it seems no matter what I am googling about - I always learn something additional at the same time - even if its just that in what I was doing I messed up and created a second internet line and couldn't actually access the internet with either one - but in a couple of days I got it figured out. You guys are one of my go to places along with a couple other sites. Couldn't do it without you! Thanks.

Justin Pot is a technology journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He loves technology, people and nature – and tries to enjoy all three whenever possible. You can chat with Justin on Twitter, right now.